CVE-2013-2141: The do_tkill function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9 does not initialize a certain dat...

Security readout for executives and security teams

CVE-2013-2141 is a Linux kernel information leak. A local user could run a crafted application that triggers specific signal-related system calls and may receive data from kernel memory. This is mainly a concern for shared Linux systems, hosting platforms, and environments where untrusted local users or workloads can run code. Exposure is most likely on older Linux systems running kernels before 3.8.9 or vendor kernels missing the relevant backport. Risk is higher where local shell users, shared hosting tenants, containers, or untrusted workloads can execute code on the same kernel. Handle this as a targeted legacy Linux hygiene issue, not an internet-wide emergency. Patch or retire affected shared Linux systems first, especially where untrusted users or workloads run. Business urgency rises if old kernels remain in production or multi-tenant environments. Mitigation focus: Apply the fixed upstream kernel or vendor kernel updates that include the CVE-2013-2141 fix.; Prioritize shared systems where untrusted local users or workloads can run code.; Confirm vendor advisories for Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, SUSE, and Mandriva where applicable..

Prepared

Jun 14, 2026, 22:07 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.